This week on A Symposium of Popular Songs, we’re listening to songs about New Orleans—Dixieland and rhythm and blues, of course, but also everything else I can think of. I felt unnecessarily negative about the city in this episode; I hope people who love it will forgive me.
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0:00
The Charleston Chasers, “Basin Street Blues” (single, 1931)
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6:45
The Kansas City Six, “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” (single, 1938)
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9:43
Louis Armstrong, “Chantez les bas (Sing ‘Em Low)” (Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy, 1954)
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15:57
Professor Longhair, “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” (single, 1949)
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18:48
Gary “U.S.” Bonds, “New Orleans” (Dance ‘Til Quarter to Three with U.S. Bonds, 1961)
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21:36
Fats Domino, “Walkin’ to New Orleans” (A Lot of Dominoes, 1960)
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26:09
Reading: Kate Chopin, The Awakening
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29:01
Bruce Cockburn, “When You Give It Away” (Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu, 1999)
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33:46
The Meters, “Cabbage Alley” (Cabbage Alley, 1972)
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37:41
Reading: Walker Percy, The Moviegoer
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40:32
R.E.M., “New Orleans Instrumental No. 1” (Automatic for the People, 1992)
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42:38
U2, “Desire” (Rattle and Hum, 1989)
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47:28
Bobbie Gentry, “Fancy” (Fancy, 1970)
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51:39
Duke Ellington, “Perdido” (single, 1942)
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54:11
Randy Newman, “Dixie Flyer” (Land of Dreams, 1988)
